Method and apparatus for hyperlinking in a television broadcast

• US 20020078446A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GoldPocket Interactive, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: GoldPocket Interactive, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Dakss, Jon, Sarachik, Karen, Bove, V. Michael Jr., Katcher, Dan, Milazzo, Paul G.
• Application Number:
  US09/943,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/64 Systems for the transmission or the storage of the colour picture signal; Details therefor, e.g. coding or decoding means therefor H04N19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/93 Run-length coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

The invention features a system and method for adding hyperlinked information to television broadcast system. The system includes a video source providing video information and an annotation system. The annotation system generates annotation data to be associated with the video information and generates annotation data timing information. The hyperlinked broadcast system also includes an augmented video information transmission generator that receives the annotation data, the video information, and the annotation data timing information. The augmented video information transmission generator generates an augmented video transmission signal including the annotation data, the annotation data timing information and the video information. In operation, the augmented video information transmission generator associates the video information with the annotation data using the annotation data timing information. A receiver displays the annotation information associated with the video signal on a frame by frame basis.

Claims

1. A hyperlinked broadcast system comprising:

a video source providing video information;

an annotation system generating annotation data to be associated with said video information and generating annotation data timing information; and

an augmented video information transmission generator receiving said annotation data, said video information, and said annotation data timing information, said augmented video information transmission generator generating an augmented video transmission signal comprising said annotation data, said annotation data timing information, and said video information,

wherein said augmented video information transmission generator associates said video information with said annotation data using said annotation data timing information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said augmented video information transmission generator comprises a vertical blanking interval insertion device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said augmented video information transmission generator comprises at last one of a vertical ancillary data insertion device and a digital video data multiplexer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said annotation data timing information comprises at least one of timestamp information, timecode information, frame numbering information, global time of day information, annotation data device commands, and a video program identifier.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said video information comprises digital video data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said video information comprises an analog video signal.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a post production environment; and

a headend comprising said augmented video information transmission generator,

wherein said video information and said annotation data timing information are combined by said post production environment and transmitted to said headend.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said headed is a cable headend.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said headend is a satellite headend.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a post production environment;

a broadcast network; and

a headend comprising said augmented video information transmission generator,

wherein said video information and said annotation data timing information are combined by said post production environment and transmitted to said broadcast network for subsequent transmission to said headend.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said headend is a cable headend.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said headend is a satellite headend.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a receiver in communication with said augmented video information transmission generator; and

a display device in communication with said receiver,

wherein said receiver synchronizes said annotation data with said video information on a frame by frame basis.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said display device displays said annotation data in response to a viewer request.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said annotation data comprises at least one of mask data, textual data, and graphics data.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said mask data comprises at least one of a graphics presentation and a textual presentation.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said mask data comprises location information of an object in an annotated video frame.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said location information includes a graphics location reference that represents a fixed relation to a set of pixels associated with said object.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said graphics location reference includes an upper left most pixel in said associated pixel set.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said graphics location reference includes a centroid pixel of said associated pixel set.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said mask data comprises location and shape information of an object in a video fame to be annotated.

22. A hyperlinked transmission assembly system comprising:

an annotation data stream generator capable of accessing annotation data;

a video information source providing video information;

an annotation data timing information decoder in communication with said annotation data stream generator and said video information source, said annotation data timing information decoder extracting annotation data timing information from said video information; and

an augmented video information transmission generator in communication with said annotation data stream generator and said video information source,

wherein said video information transmission generator synchronizes said video information with said annotation data based on said annotation data timing information.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said video information transmission generator synchronizes said video information with said annotation data on a frame by frame basis.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data timing information decoder is a vertical blanking interval decoder.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data timing information decoder is at least one of a vertical ancillary data decoder and a digital transport stream decoder.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data storage device is capable of accessing said annotation data at least as early as said annotation data stream generator receives said annotation data timing information.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data stream generator accesses said annotation data from an internal storage device.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data stream generator accesses said annotation data from an external storage device.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data stream generator streams said annotation data in response to said annotation data timing information.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data timing information comprises at least one of timestamp information, timecode information, frame numbering information, global time of day information, annotation data device commands, and video program identifier.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein said annotation data comprises at least one of mask data, textual data, and graphics data.

32. A hyperlinked reception system comprising:

a receiver in communication with a broadcast channel; and

a display device in communication with said receiver,

wherein said receiver synchronizes mask data with associated video information on a frame by frame basis in response to timing information.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said receiver comprises a timer to calculate an offset from said timing information to synchronize said mask data with said associated video information.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said timing information comprises at least one of timestamp information, timecode information, frame numbering information, global time of day information, receiver commands, and video program identifier.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said augmented video information transmission generator comprises a vertical blanking interval insertion device.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said augmented video information transmission generator comprises at least are of a vertical ancillary data insertion device and a digital video data multiplexer.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein said annotation data timing information comprises at least one of timestamp information, timecode information, frame numbering information, global time of day information, annotation data device commands, and a video program identifier.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein said video information comprises digital video data.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein said video information comprises an analog video signal.

41. The method of claim 35 further comprising inserting said annotation data timing information in a vertical blanking interval of an analog video signal.

42. The method of claim 35 further comprising inserting said annotation data timing information in a vertical ancillary data region of a digital video signal.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein said communicating step comprises transmitting said timing information and said video information to a broadcast network and subsequently to said augmented video information transmission generator.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein said annotation data comprises at least one of mask data, textual data, and graphics data.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said mask data comprises at least one of a graphics presentation and a textual presentation.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said mask data comprises location information of an object in an annotated video frame.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said location information includes a graphics location reference that represents a fixed relation to a set of pixels associated with said object.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said graphics location reference includes an upper left most pixel in said associated pixel set.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said graphics location reference includes a centroid pixel of said associated pixel set.

50. The method of claim 44 wherein said mask data comprises location and shape information of an object in an annotated video frame.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein said shape information is represented by a graphical overlay of said object.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said shape information is represented by an outline of said object.

35. A method of generating a hyperlinked video signal comprising:

generating annotation data timing information from video information;

generating annotation data for said video information;

communicating said annotation data timing information, said annotation data, and said video information to an augmented video information transmission generator; and

synchronizing said video information with said annotation data in response to said annotation data timing information by said augmented video information transmission generator.